Afghanistan spinner makes World Cup history with 'outrageous' over
Mohammad Nabi has written his name into the World Cup record books with an incredible three-wicket over against Sri Lanka.
The Afghanistan spinner sparked an astonishing collapse at Sophia Gardens on Tuesday, as Sri Lanka fell from 1-144 to 201 all out.
Nabi had Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews all out in the 22nd over, becoming the first spinner in World Cup history to dismiss three top six batsmen in one over.
The only other bowlers to achieve that feat were pacemen: Chaminda Vaas and Brett Lee in 2003 and Farveez Maharoof in 2007.
Mohammad Nabi is the first spinner to dismiss three top-6 batsmen in a single World Cup over (since 1999, when Cricinfo's ball-by-ball records began). Other bowlers to do so since 1999: Vaas (SL v Ban, 2003); Brett Lee (Aus v Ken, 2003); Maharoof (SL v Ire, 2007). #CWC2019
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) June 4, 2019
That Nabi over was outrageous #CWC19 #SLvAFG
— Jon (@GoldenViews00) June 4, 2019
Nabi. What an over #AFGvSL #WorldCup
— Nathaniel Eldridge (@fanno36) June 4, 2019
Oh my word! What is going on!?
Sri Lanka are suddenly on the ropes here, and Nabi has struck thrice in one over! Mathews falls for a golden duck, and he emulates Mendis' dismissal, edging to Rahmat at first slip. It took a nick of wicket-keeper Shahza pic.twitter.com/m5QMgEvBqC— bolt world (@world_bolt) June 4, 2019
All in vain
However Sri Lanka managed to recover to knock over Afghanistan for 152 and seal a 34-run win for their first victory.
Chasing a revised target of 187 from a maximum 41 overs, Afghanistan slumped from 0-34 to 5-57 then battled back through a 64-run stand between Gulbadin Naib (23) and Najibullah Zadran (43).
Sri Lanka again responded and took the final five wickets for 31 runs, with recalled seamer Nuwan Pradeep getting a career-best 4-31.
Veteran paceman Lasith Malinga delivered the finishing blows with two trademark yorkers, ending a personal run of 22 one-day internationals without a win in Sri Lanka colours.
Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup winner, was trounced by New Zealand by 10 wickets in its opening group game, having lost all but one of 14 ODIs ahead of the World Cup.
The national team is in something of a mess off the field, too, with a number of players and officials - including 1996 World Cup winner Sanath Jayasuriya - having been charged with not co-operating with anti-corruption investigators.
This win should raise spirits although the error-strewn nature of the match couldn't help but strengthen the feeling this was a contest between the two teams likely fighting to avoid last place in the 10-team group.
It featured 52 extras, with Sri Lanka's 35 being the second-highest scorer on its card.
In one comical moment , an inoffensive forward defensive stroke by Afghanistan batsman Dawlat Zadran saw the ball trickle past bowler Pradeep and then half-hearted attempted saves from Malinga and Angelo Mathews before dribbling to the boundary.
As for the Afghans, their only win at a World Cup remains the one over Scotland in 2015. They'll feel this match slipped from their grasp, especially when Sri Lanka was reeling at 6-159 after three wickets in one over from Mohammad Nabi (4-30 off nine overs).
Sri Lanka, who made the fastest 10-over start to the tournament by racing to 0-79, lost their last nine wickets for 57 runs in 15.4 overs, with only opener Kusal Perera (78) offering any resistance.
Afghanistan have two defeats from two matches, after a loss to Australia on Saturday.
with AAP